Purpose: The aim of the study was to validate the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool (CPAx) in Danish, including translation, cross-cultural adaptation and evaluation of clinemetric properties.
Method: International recommendations for translation and cross-cultural adaptation of outcome measures were followed. Physiotherapists with ICU experience investigated the clinemetric properties of the Danish CPAx version among 30 critically ill patients at three different ICUs. Furthermore, a focus group interview was carried out to examine cross-cultural adaptation of the CPAx tool.
Results: Translation and pre-test of the Danish version of CPAx resulted in a measurement tool with good clinemetric properties. Few adaptations were made with consideration of comparability between the Danish and the English version. The author of the original version of CPAx, Eve Corner, approved the Danish translation.
Conclusion: The Danish version of the CPAx seems to be an appropriate measurement instrument for evaluation of physical function in ICU patients. This study is the first step toward a validation of a Danish version of the CPAx tool. However, further research is needed to investigate reliability and responsiveness among patients in the ICU.
Keywords: Validation; clinemetric properties; cross-cultural adaptation; intensive care unit; measurement instrument; rehabilitation.